Loungers, a prominent player in the UK hospitality industry, has witnessed remarkable growth, with the 2024 financial year marking a milestone in its expansion journey. Founded in 2002 by three friends with a vision to establish a neighbourhood café-bar they themselves would frequent, Loungers has evolved into a leading operator with a distinct presence across England and Wales. As of December 2023, the company boasts 247 establishments under its umbrella, spanning three unique brands: Lounge, Cosy Club, and Brightside.Embracing an organic growth strategy, Loungers has consistently outperformed the broader UK hospitality sector over the past three years. The company’s directors remain steadfast in their commitment to this strategy, focusing on the continual rollout of new sites under the Lounge, Cosy Club, and Brightside banners. With an emphasis on operational enhancements to drive sales and margin improvements, Loungers aims to maintain its upward trajectory in the market.During the 2024 financial year, Loungers achieved a significant milestone by opening 39 new sites, setting a record for the company. These additions included 33 Lounges, one Cosy Club, and two Brightside locations. As of 21st April 2024, the company’s portfolio expanded to encompass 257 sites, with an additional Lounge site opening in Ely, Cambridgeshire, after the reporting period.The company’s financial performance during the 2024 fiscal year also reflected its growth trajectory, with record revenue reaching £353.5 million, marking a robust year-on-year increase of 24.7%. Notably, like-for-like sales surged by 7.5% during this period, underscoring Loungers’ resilience and appeal in the competitive hospitality landscape. Nick Collins, CEO of Loungers, expressed his satisfaction with the company’s achievements, highlighting its consistent outperformance within the sector and the successful launch of 36 new sites. He attributed this success to Loungers’ unwavering commitment to menu innovation, value for money, and exceptional hospitality, which resonate with both existing patrons and new customers. Looking ahead, Loungers remains optimistic about its growth prospects, buoyed by a resilient UK economy and its well-positioned stance in the market. As the company embarks on the new financial year, it seeks to build upon its momentum, further solidifying its status as a key player in the UK hospitality sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The first rail seating handrails are set to be installed at Everton Stadium As the seat installations continue at pace, with fast-approaching 40,000 now in situ, the first delivery of the handrails have arrived on site at Bramley-Moore Dock. Everton Stadium will feature rail seating throughout the entire lower tier of the raking south stand for home fans, and also in the lower section of the away end in the north east corner. And initial installations are set to commence imminently in the south stand. Elsewhere within the bowl, all of the ‘P’ handrails have been installed on access stairs, while most of the glass balustrading is in place at the vomitory entrances. Work also continues to install ducting around the pitch surrounds, for the critical infrastructure of undersoil heating, below-ground drainage, irrigation pipes and cables for broadcasters. Work has started on the barrel roof cladding at the south end of the east stand, while the intricately-shaped pieces have been fitted at the northern end, to provide clean edgings. The top-level roof coverings are almost complete on the west stand, and the 172m lengths of top-sheet coverings are set to be rolled out on the expansive south stand, from a specially-adapted shipping container. With the entire site now energised, and all mains infrastructure services are now connected, work is picking up apace inside, where suspended ceilings are being fitted and all catering and concession area equipment installed. The sweeping Western Terrace, facing the River Mersey, is shaping up well, with concrete works now finished, waterproof membranes laid and, at the southern end, drainage layers being excavated in preparation for hard landscaping. Setts and paving along the Mersey river wall add another level of precise detail to what will become a superb vantage point for supporters. Meanwhile, in the fan plaza, more trees have been planted and the third pedestrian gate has been lowered into the gap in the boundary wall that formerly served as the main site entrance for vehicles. All three of the steel gates are now in position, and will be skilfully reintegrated into the wall using existing brickwork. Skilled craftsmen form Vetter, a specialist stone contactor and part of the Laing O’Rourke group of companies, continue to painstakingly pave the 30,000m sq fan plaza that will serve as the spacious entrance to the stadium footprint. And with the former access road that cut through the plaza now redundant, foundations are currently being laid for the installation of historic railway lines, before the two sections of paving are expertly joined up. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Shaftesbury Capital has announced that ERGON House, the Greek boutique hotel brand known for theirunique blend of hospitality and exceptional culinary experiences, is set to open in Covent Garden in anewly refurbished heritage listed building, anchoring King Street next year. This will be the brand’s firsthotel outside of Greece, marking a significant milestone in ERGON’s expansion. It also demonstratesCovent Garden’s gravitas in attracting groundbreaking and new flagship concepts and high qualityglobal brands, further cementing its position as a world-class mixed-use destination as ShaftesburyCapital’s West End portfolio continues to evolve. The boutique hotel which features artisanal Mediterranean products and cuisine will open a c.20,000sqft location at 26 King Street, boasting a unique blend of living, restaurant spaces and culinaryexperiences in a Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere. The venue will host over 20 contemporary hotelrooms, with access to a private gym, with spaces designed by local artists, paying homage to its Greekroots. It will also boast a 2,220 sq ft rooftop restaurant with an al fresco terrace, which, as one of only afew in the area, will boast striking views of the London skyline. With food at the forefront, ERGON House will deliver a multitude of culinary experiences open to thepublic, including an Agora marketplace where bakers, butchers, fishmongers, and greengrocers willbring farm-to-table produce to visitors. As the only integrated Greek food and hospitality brand in the world with a portfolio of more than 600unique products, 25 company-owned and franchised Mediterranean delis, restaurants, markets andhotels in Greece, UK, Cyprus and the Middle East, ERGON will bring an alternative culinary concept toLondon. Following a successful opening in Greece, ERGON House is looking to grow its presence withinEurope and has selected Covent Garden to for its London flagship, demonstrating the destination’sdrive to attain impactful and high-quality UK debuts. Opening next year, it will complement and join a prime roster of brands on King Street such as Creed, JoMalone London, Polo Ralph Lauren, Reformation and Petersham Nurseries, along with renownedrestaurant Clos Maggiore and the recent arrival of Arc’teryx’s new flagship store, creating one ofLondon’s most attractive lifestyle streets. Michelle McGrath, Executive Director, Shaftesbury Capital, commented: “Making places like CoventGarden thrive requires the right blend of high quality destination concepts and uses which foster anenvironment for trade and consumer experiences to flourish. Covent Garden is now the go-todestination for British and international brands, culture, entertainment, and art, with the opening ofERGON House cementing this further. This unique boutique hotel will enhance the Covent Garden experience, delivering a distinctive blend ofhigh-end hospitality experience which aligns with our goal to continually evolve and enhance theneighbourhood. The addition of a new rooftop restaurant and terrace for the district will deliver a rareand high quality experience for locals and visitors, setting us apart from other destinations.” Thomas Douzis, Founder & CEO of ERGON, also said: “ERGON House Covent Garden marks a significantmilestone for us. It represents our dedication and commitment to providing a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience for guests, and marks a new era in our journey. We chose Covent Garden for our firstlocation in the UK because of its strong reputation in retail and F&B. It offers a unique opportunity forus with local and international visitors, and the solid cultural foundation it has cultivated. We lookforward to embedding ourselves within the West End.” The signing of ERGON House follows the recent announcement that global beauty pioneer ELEMIS, isset to open its first London based standalone store in Covent Garden’s Seven Dials later this year,joining brands such as Missoma and Odd Muse on Monmouth Street. This also follows the recentsigning of Axel Arigato, which is set to open a new Flagship store on Earlham Street this Summer,marking the retailer’s second location within the Shaftesbury Capital West End portfolio. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Shaftesbury Capital has unveiled plans to introduce six exciting new food and beverage concepts to its vibrant Soho portfolio, adding to the eclectic dining scene of the area. Leading the lineup is The Counter, a contemporary Aegean restaurant set to make its debut at 15-16 Kingly Street in May. Spanning 2,000 sq ft, The Counter will offer a stylish indoor dining space along with a charming 20-seat outdoor terrace. Additionally, guests can enjoy creative cocktails inspired by the regions of Greece, Turkey, the Mediterranean, and the Levant at the 30-cover downstairs bar, aptly named Under The Counter. Joining the culinary mix on Kingly Street is The Little Violet Door, the latest venture from Little Door & Co. Spanning 3,400 sq ft, this new venue will provide a unique afternoon-to-late-night experience, reminiscent of a house party atmosphere. Soho’s beloved Two Floors pub and cocktail bar has also expanded its footprint, with Shaftesbury Capital overseeing the redevelopment of three townhouses to accommodate new ground floor units. With an office provision upstairs, the expanded venue now spans 2,850 sq ft, encompassing both 3 and 4 Kingly Street. Adding an international flair to Kingly Court is the arrival of Liu Xiaomian, the first physical location for the popular noodle bar. Drawing inspiration from Chongqing, China, the restaurant offers a tantalising menu featuring spicy Chongqing noodles, pig trotter noodles, and aubergine salad. Meanwhile, the top floor of Kingly Court welcomes Donia, a modern Filipino restaurant focusing on sharing plates. Operated by Maginhawa Group, known for its fusion restaurant Ramo Ramen and dessert parlour Mamasons, Donia promises an exciting dining experience. Lastly, Oka, a pan-Asian and sushi specialist, has reopened its flagship West End restaurant at Kingly Court after a decade. The revamped venue reflects the operator’s commitment to excellence, offering an enhanced dining experience to patrons. Michelle McGrath, executive director at Shaftesbury Capital, expressed enthusiasm for the new additions, highlighting Soho’s reputation as the epicentre of London’s dining scene. McGrath emphasised the area’s appeal to hospitality entrepreneurs and its role as a hub for quality dining experiences, catering to a discerning consumer base comprising office workers, local residents, and visitors alike.